Missing fans make their point

RAY HEPBURN

5 Oct 1992

ALTHOUGH they have had some input, mainly courtesy of the media, the people at the sharp end of football have not been adquately consulted during talks about the sport's future structure.

Surely players, managers and supporters are the people who should be at the heart of the matter.

It was therefore interesting, but also depressing, to log some of Joe Jordan's thoughts after Hearts' 1-1 draw with St Johnstone.

Despite achieving third position in the league and reaching the second round of the UEFA Cup he could only describe the first quarter of the season as "a hard slog."

How do legislators expect the paying public to fork out scarce cash to watch "a hard slog?" Particularly as this is the time in the season when players should be fresh and at their best.

On Saturday, there was no doubt that Hearts' midweek task against Slavia Prague had taken a mental and physical toll.

This was the Tynecastle team's sixteenth match of the season in 64 days, and they still are behind Rangers in terms of the most committed team to fixtures so far this season.

St Johnstone, by comparison, had a free week in which to prepare, and during the second half their better shape began to assert and they might even have finished winners.

Not only were the home team ill prepared to entertain as they would wish, but injuries collected in the mini-marathon deprived them of Derek Ferguson, Gary Mackay, John Millar, and Ian Ferguson.

This is not a problem confined to Jordan's club, but on Saturday they were a vivid example of just what is ailing in a product that used to be purchased as a matter of habit.

But there were some good moments in a game most would be happy to forget.

John Robertson's swift turn and shot from Ian Baird's twenty-fifth minute head-down was finishing perfection.

And John Davies was equally expert when drilling a low shot behind Henry Smith two minutes into the second half after Sean McAuley had underlined a good afternoon's work with the cross.

The former Manchester United full back convinced as a more than useful recruit with his accurate distribution, perceptive defending and considerable pace.

Jordan has had his part in the debate then, and his players through their performance have also spoken.

The supporters would not be left out either.

Just under 8000 of them paid on Saturday, four days after 17,000 watched the high point of their season.

Taken from the Herald